Daddona Trims Budget Shortfall To $2 Million

October 08, 1992|by ELLIOT GROSSMAN, The Morning Call

Allentown Mayor Joseph Daddona's staff has trimmed the projected 1993 budget gap to about $2 million by proposing -- among other things -- that another city pool be closed, no new street lights be installed and an unneeded traffic light be removed.

Daddona predicted yesterday that his proposed 1993 budget will contain a slight tax increase because he will not be able to completely close the gap between revenue and expenses.

A real estate tax increase of about a mill or less might be needed, he said. The 1992 tax rate is 12.22 mills.

His proposed budget will be made public Nov. 3.

City Council has taken a hard stance against any tax increase since Daddona announced in August that preliminary budget estimates showed a $3.7 million gap.

Since then, revenue projections have increased and the mayor ordered his aides to target areas for spending cuts.

"We've already trimmed the fat," he said. "We're cutting into the bone and marrow."

On Tuesday, Daddona told a City Council committee that his staff had reduced the gap to about $2.7 million, but he said yesterday it was closer to $2 million.

Daddona declined to identify the pool targeted for closing. The city has six pools after closing two this year. Pool usage has been dropping, he said.

The pool closing could save the city about $30,000 annually in staff, maintenance and supplies, he said.

A yearlong ban on installing new street lights could save $20,000 to $30,000, he said. Residents regularly request street lights on streets that have none.

And removing traffic signals at an intersection could save on electricity, maintenance and new lightbulbs, he said, and the parts could be used elsewhere. He declined to identify the intersection.

Also, he said he wants to defer the purchase of major equipment until the end of 1993 so the bills won't have to be paid until 1994.

The budget gap also has been closed because of the mayor's directive against replacing employees who have left, except in public safety positions. That order could lead to a 1992 budget surplus, he said.

Dozens of items are being targeted for cutting, except expenditures dictated by city contracts, he said.